MAT Blog

Most of us are accustomed to using “labs” in math and science courses, but less often do we associate them with subjects like history and social studies. The University of Maryland’s new History Labs website is designed to turn all of that on its head.

Here you will find an impressive collection of resources and assessment strategies for K-12 American history teachers who are interested in taking a hands-on approach to their subject.

Rather than asking students to focus on memorizing names and dates, History Lab’s methodology is designed to help teachers evaluate students on a continuum. In other words, students will be asked to engage in a series of analytical, procedural, and experiential activities that push them to:

Seek to answer an open-ended overarching question that encourages several answers and perspectives

Analyze sources and apply information to answer that overarching question

Apply literacy and close-reading skills to historical sources

Critically examine source materials

Apply grade-level and ability-appropriate interpretive skills

Adjust or modify the overarching question when necessary

Develop present, defend, and refine their evidence-based answers

To learn more about History Labs, watch the video below—and be sure to stop by the History Lab website for more resources.